Philipp Kurashev will draw back into the Blackhawks' lineup after being a healthy scratch on Tuesday, replacing Athanasiou. The 30-year-old Athanasiou has zero points in his first five games and is averaging only 9:36 time-on-ice, a steep drop from the 13:06 he averaged in 28 games with the club last season.
Despite placing second on the Blackhawks with 54 points (18G / 36A) last season, Kurashev was a healthy scratch on Tuesday. He will draw back into the lineup on Friday against the Nashville Predators and hope to improve on a disappointing start to the 2024-25 season, with one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus in six games.
Levshunov was the 2nd overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft and will begin his professional career with the Rockford Icehogs (AHL). The 18-year-old Levshunov had 44 points (9G / 26A) in 38 games playing collegiate hockey for Michigan State University.
Maroon did not play on Saturday due to a lower-body injury but should return to the lineup on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. Maroon, in his his first season with the Blackhawks, the eighth stop of his 14-year career, is averaging 11:59 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) and 14 penalty minutes through 5 games.
After a breakout 2023-24 campaign, potting 54 points (18G / 36A) in 75 games, Kurashev will be a healthy scratch in game seven of the season for the Blackhawks on Tuesday against the Vancouver Canucks. In six games this season, Kurashev has one point (1G / 0A) and a -6 plus/minus rating.
Slaggert was a third-round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2020 NHL Entry Draft. The 22-year-old Indiana native made his NHL debut last season, scoring four points (1G / 3A) in 16 games with Chicago.
Maroon, in his his first season with the Blackhawks, the eighth stop of his 14-year career, is averaging 11:59 time-on-ice and has one point (0G / 1A) and 14 penalty minutes through 15 games. The 36-year-old's status for Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres is up in the air.
After playing 55 games with the Blackhawks last season, scoring 17 points (5G / 12A), the 26-year-old Anderson seems to have found a home in the NHL after being a journeyman for the first seven years of his career. He has one point (0G / 1A) in five games with the Blackhawks this season and his status for Saturday's game against the Buffalo Sabres is uncertain.
Martinez is battling a lower-body ailment and will miss at least one week of action. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice through four games this season and has tallied one assist, 15 blocks, and one hit. The Blackhawks have recalled Isaak Phillips from the Rockford IceHogs (AHL) in the interim.
Veteran defenseman Alec Martinez will not play on Thursday due to a lower-body injury, allowing Allan to enter the Blackhawks' lineup. The 21-year-old Allan was the 32nd overall pick of the Blackhawks in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft. He played 60 games with the Rockford IceHogs last season, tallying 17 points (5G / 12A).
Martinez is battling a lower-body ailment and will not play on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks. The veteran 37-year-old defenseman is averaging 21:02 time-on-ice through four games this season and has tallied one assist, 15 blocks, and one hit.
Lukas Reichel will make his season debut on Thursday against the San Jose Sharks, sending Athanasiou to the press box as a healthy scratch. The 30-year-old Athanasiou has been held off the scoresheet in three games this season, averaging 9:47 time-on-ice and recording a -1 plus/minus rating.
Andreas Athanasiou will be a heatlhy scratch for the Blackhawks on Thursday, allowing Reichel to make his season debut. The talented 22-year-old Reichel played his first full NHL season in 2023-24, tallying 16 points (5G / 11A) and a -29 plus/minus rating in 65 games.
Knight struggled in his first outing this season, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last week, but will return to the crease for the Panthers for a second time in their first five games. With Sergei Bobrovsky in his age 36 season, coming off consecutive long playoff runs, this could be an indication Knight's workload going forward this season. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter action as -153 road favourites on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Knight struggled in his first outing this season, allowing four goals on 26 shots (.846 SV%) in a 5-3 loss to the Buffalo Sabres last week, but will return to the crease for the Panthers for a second time in their first five games. With Sergei Bobrovsky in his age 36 season, coming off consecutive long playoff runs, this could be an indication Knight's workload going forward this season. The Panthers, still without Aleksander Barkov and Matthew Tkachuk, enter action as -153 road favourites on the road against the Columbus Blue Jackets.
